How to Care For a Desert Rose Plant

Adenium obesum, also known as desert rose or mock azalea, is a succulent plant with red, pink and white flowers. Here's how to care for a desert rose.

The desert rose can't survive in cold temperatures. Therefore it's usually planted in pots so it can be moved indoors when the weather changes. For adequate drainage, plant your desert rose in one part potting soil mixed with one part perlite [source: Sidhe] or sand. A layer of gravel below the soil and another above it helps prevent stem rot [source: Plant Care].

The desert rose can be grown from seeds or from stem cuttings. Let the stem cuttings dry out before planting. Plant them in the springtime and keep them in filtered sunlight until they begin to grow.

The desert rose only needs watering when the soil feels dry. In the winter, it only needs water every three or four weeks. This lets it be dormant so it can bloom better in the springtime [source: Sidhe].

The desert rose can be fertilized once a month in the spring and summer. Water it lightly after fertilizing.

The desert rose should be pruned once in early spring, before it begins to bloom. Cutting off long, leggy branches encourage the growth of more flowers.

The desert rose should be repotted every year or two. The new vessel should be 1 or 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) larger than the previous one.

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